Fluid flow in ladle and its effect on decarburization rate in RH degasser

Theoretical and experimental studies were carried out to quantitatively understand the effect of fluid flow on the decarburization reaction rate at RH degasser. The results of hydrodynamic calculation on fluid flow in ladle was proved to be reasonable compared with results in cold model experiments. Decarburization reaction model coupled with fluid flow in ladle made it clear that decarburization reaction rate obtained from the model is higher than that for perfect mixing flow and lower than that for plug flow. The model enabled us to predict the concentration distribution of carbon in ladle during decarburization treatment. The maximum value found in the recirculating flow zone becomes about twice the minimum one which is obtained in the region just below the down-leg. Dead zone is not recognized, which disturbs the decarburization rate in the process. It was also made clear that shape of ladle does not have any significant effect on the decarburization rate.